American Epidemic: The Nation's Struggle With Opioid Addiction 

I grew up with my parents who were both addicts, and watching this hits home hard..

I stop using 9 years ago & then 3 years into me being sober found out I was gonna be a father i thank God for given me the strength to stay drug free i couldn't imagine using being a dad now my son is my everything . When i saw the part in this video with the young boy Ben and he said he wished he had bigger muscles so that he could wake his dad up when he would sleep long broke my heart 💔 then the things the boy's dad done with the scary movies 🎥 and then he dies made me cry I'm a man and I'm not ashamed to say that it made me cry it hit me because i could never let my son down especially like in that way sad May God bless the families who have to see there loved ones go through addiction and may God bless all using may they have the strength to overcome there addiction 🙏🏼

As a recovering addict myself.. I can relate so much to Joey. I live in Southern Maine maybe a hour away and I was a addict for over 10 years. I have 4 years clean this December.. I wish I could find you on Facebook and link up with you. It’s nice having someone you can relate to so much. My story’s unbelievable also. My kids saved my life and I thank god every day. I lost my first born daughter to foster care in Florida due to my drug abuse. I came back home to Maine and had 2 boys. My oldest boy is 4 and I promised him the minute he opened his eyes that I would never leave him. And I would never let anything stop me. NOTHING. 2 weeks after he was born his mother found needles in my backpack.. She kicked me out and gave me the ultimatum. I could have the needles and drugs. Or I could have her and my son. Needless to say, I been clean for 4 years now and my son just had his 4th birthday a few weeks ago. We ended up having another baby boy who will be 2 in January. Every day is a struggle and a new fight. But that feeling I get when I feels those little arms wrapped around my neck. Speak of the devil. He just came out as I was writing this and said Daddy I want big big giant loves. And gave me the biggest hug. ❤️ No feeling in the world could ever compare to it. No high in this world would ever be worth going back and losing my boys.

I want everyone who watches this to understand that this story is a window to a lot of addicts and recovering addicts stories. I work in detox, I see these good people fall every day, they are doing great and the addiction overtakes them. It's so sad how strong the addiction is... It's understandable and so dangerous. I consider my clients almost like my children now- I feel so desperate to help them, and in the end it's their strength, their willpower, it is them that have to crawl out the hole thats sinking them. I've seen some clients die, some clients stay sober for a long time, clients who stay sober and fall, clients who can't stay sober for the life of them. Clients mandated by probation and parole, clients who desperately want to change, and clients who are being forced to come by families. I see clients who want to do better, I see clients who want to hurt others by bringing drugs in. I see clients who's parents are exactly like this.... kick their child out and regret it and hate it so much, but have no idea what to do.... it's depressing. We don't have enough resources in the world to keep the drug sellers away from the addicted... we don't have enough detox beds, enough state funded beds, enough time, resources, or anything... I just hope when people see this they don't judge these people. Addiction comes down to the brain... the brain can't help it. When it gets something good, it wants more and more and more... and then without it the brain craves it.... and that's why it's so hard to just "quit" you have to fight yourself... and that's the toughest thing of all. How hard they have to fight against their own MINDS telling them "DO IT" and their own willpower saying NO. I love my clients, and I don't ask for my clients to remember me or love me back or anything, I just hope to god they can all beat their addictions. I don't care how many times I have to give them a chance, they will always have a chance and be human beings to me.

Too everyone who has overcome an addiction and is in a good place , I have the upmost respect for you and wish you the best. Don’t listen to people who don’t know what it is like to go through something like this. You are human and beautiful and deserve a happy life. ❤️

Ah man, I feel so much for little Ben. I hope he grows up happy. Those early memories can stay with you for a long time.

My son died this thanksgiving. If your child is young, don’t hold back on aggressive treatment. It’s your only hope. After years of use there’s no hope. The brain changes. Johnny fought like a hero to end his sickness. Too late. His brain was no longer the same. His doctor and nurses thought he was the kindest person they’d ever met. There’s only a 30% chance of surviving this disease . Don’t hope…Act. Don’t brush off the signs and think it will get better. It will not. Be aggressive with this drug

What an amazing family for sticking behind their son and getting him the help.

my mom and dad were the same way when I was poppin pills... now I've been sober 2 years and working a fulltime job ....from nothing to something; just keep moving forward each day.

I strongly believe a big part in this Opioid crisis is that Doctors cut their patients off of their pain Meds without warning. Especially chronic pain patients. The way the FDA/DEA went about it, was completely juvenile.

Ugh!! That grandfather afraid that he will die before he can help his grand-kids become men. Tore at my heart strings!!

Ben, my dude, you are already strong. You're already a superhero for having lived through that experience.

I spent twenty years addicted and homeless, and the best thing anyone ever did for me was not do anything for me, when you enable someone like Joseph you become a part of the problem.

I was trying to figure out why he was so unmotivated to work, but then I realized that depression is very real in circumstances like his. His dad was not wrong either, though. You can't give a struggling person in the throws of addiction money.

Anyone who's an Addict that has family that cares and is trying to help. Don't take that for granted. If you still have family who cares. Trying to help you get sober. Take the help. You will not regret it. We do recover. Take the help given to you and get better. 6 years sober here and let me tell you. It is such a good feeling knowing youre clean and able to live life without numbing your body and mind. Keep fighting anyone who struggling with addiction

Now rewind to the 80's and see how that "epidemic" was handled.

Nothing stronger than the love of a dad and mum for their child !!

The first thing on their fridge is: " student loans". Give most of your income to a parasitic corporation who sold you a false dream...

It breaks my heart and makes me cry when I heard about the plight the little boy who was adopted went through. Especially when he said drinking 100 glasses of milk a day would make him strong to wake someone up but realized that it was not possible. No child should have to go through such a traumatic experience.

Here in 2019, and I can't tell you how informative this video was and is relevant today. I am personally going to school right now to become a substance use disorder counselor and this showed the full spectrum from use, to dislocated families, to the revolving door of the criminal justice system, and to relapse/recovery/death. Substance abuse is everywhere in the US. It's hidden but it is present everywhere and I hope we can shed light on this now in society as a whole and be a part of a solution and not a silent enabler to this epidemic. These families stories need to be heard by everyone.

i watched my husbands cousin go thru this. The trauma on the kids has been the hardest part. You start to lose sympathy for the drug user after years of abuse but the kids lives have been devastated.

Thank you grandparents for EVERYTHING that you do! We know your time should have been yours when you get to the golden age, but we really need you for people who are just lost and gone! I am so glad those boys had their grandparents. This just shows how even coming from a good home doesn't keep you from being an addict and then dead.

Videos like this really helps thanks, this is my sixth day sober and I feel so confident that I can make it though this so thanks for sharing this.

Shout out to Vermont and being smart with that pre charge program. So awesome to help addicts as opposed to just throwing them in jail to graduate as career criminals. Major credit given to that state.

Can someone explain to me why the large public and legislative concern for this and the difference of the treatment of black people with marijuana? Why are these people not in jail as the millions of black people for a few grams that have virtually destroyed many lives completely? I would really appreciate a proper answer rather than the anticipated crap.

I'm so glad Todd was with producers and camera crew when he found that bag

I see this on a daily basis as an addiction recovery doctor, luckily in the UK Fentanyl cases are very few and far between, however we have other opioids that people get addicted too, these drugs are incredibly addictive. I will never stop trying to help people who come into my centre.

Ive been clear for over a year working on year 2... i was on percocets 30mg... it is always a battle. I had to relocate and have the right support from friends . Lucky i never had to go to rehab. If anyone addicted is seeing this or dealing with someone with addiction it does get better. But you cant change someone who doesn't want to change them selves .

the level of support he got is amazing,there's many ppl out there who doesn't 😔

I hope that every person suffering from addiction - whatever it may be - gets the help they need to overcome their problems.

Little tiny Ben broke my heart with his other daddy and thinking he could be a super hero by drinking the milk but not anymore! I hope that boy grows up emulating his adopted parents not his paternal parents, little angel!

I've been in Stephanie's shoes. Thankful that her and Joe have such a supportive and loving family. Much love to anyone effected by the opiod epidemic ❤️❤️

Very well-done, as someone with an opiate addiction in recovery I loved it👏❤️🙏💉. You guys should make this a series💗

“Just Say No To Drugs” that’s what you told us!

being a recovering addict, had overdose, watching this breaks my heart . prayers to you all ,

I wish people would have the same compassion for the crack epidemic and its victims.

Respect to chuck the grandfather for raising those kids with such an honest kind heart.

to loose your mom and your sister, man thats sad as hell...

Wow he went through $200,000.00 in dope. He is lucky to be alive.

Just say no

I am an addict I was a RN working in the emergency room when I had surgery I was prescribed percocet for pain which I became addicted when my doctor stopped giving me pain pills I turned to heroin and my life spiraled out of control I started taking pain meds from work lost my job career went to jail lost my children my home everything but worse I lost my faith in God I'm trying so hard im on suboxone and it has helped me get through my fucked up life

I'm an addict,at first I was on diydracodien,around 35-30ml tabs aday,for around 18 years,luckily I got into rehab,now I'm on a methadone program,yea its hard,but one day I'll be clean

I'm going to be honest, I don't understand how the "addiction is a disease" narrative is useful. There isn't enough emphasis on that first choice to take drugs in the first place, that choice that changed the trajectory of so many of these people's lives. I struggle to understand why people in the first world knowingly and willfully put themselves in a position to become addicted to drugs. We need to understand where this lack of discipline and self control cones from.

Love to the family members taking care of the kids. To all the abusers out there: THINK OF WHAT YOU’RE DOING TO THE CHILDREN.

Keeping the first dude locked up in that house is the worst thing for him. He needs to be around other people in recovery. I don't know what he's doing but he needs the 12 steps

Great video! So many smiles and tears. I love seeing ppl and families successfully beat addiction.

I’m 37 now crack hit our towns in the 80s I lost my mom and dad I saw things that that hurt me things happened to me that was so wrong there was no help it hurts me to this day my sister now use I ran never looking back saving now to move to Africa I have no family left here where was my tv show my help? Just asking

I’m 3 weeks clean from opiates and methadone ❤

Parents make me sick who leave there kids for drugs.

I wish so much that we could just talk about this openly, what this mom says about shame is so accurate. There are moments of intervention, but if it shrouded in shame it makes it impossible to have a break through. We are all capable of an imbalance in our lives. Just get to the bottom of it, and hold love for those in your family and friend circle. People around you will help.

My brother has been addicted to crack since the 90s I wish there was a pre charge program around back then.

the families are amazing for sharing this I wish them all luck.They have had to endure so much.

Well done to everyone in this! you have my true admiration, you all such normal people, you can do it! The grandparents and the adopted parents! Love you for taking the kids in, everyone one of you in this documentary are sensational!

I stop using 9 years ago & then 3 years into me being sober found out I was gonna be a father i thank God for given me the strength to stay drug free i couldn't imagine using being a dad now my son is my everything . When i saw the part in this video with the young boy Ben and he said he wished he had bigger muscles so that he could wake his dad up when he would sleep long broke my heart 💔 then the things the boy's dad done with the scary movies 🎥 and then he dies made me cry I'm a man and I'm not ashamed to say that it made me cry it hit me because i could never let my son down especially like in that way smh

These people ruin it for people who really need opiates for pain.My pain doctor does blood tests on me to make sure I'm taking my meds and not selling them.I don't get any euphoric feelings from them.They help me manage my pain.If I didn't have these meds,I would probably kill myself.Being in terrible pain everyday is no way to live. I've had 5 back surgeries within a 2 yr period and live in pain everyday.When I do my grocery shopping, I'm laid out in bed for 2-3days afterward . I'm not able to play with my grandkids,I live on TV dinners,becquse if I stand longer than 15 minutes, I have terrible pain.These people are on massive amounts of pain meds,because after a month,you don't get the high feeling anymore.And anyone who legitimately takes pain meds then stop will go thru withdrawls,doesn't mean you're addicted.

The little boy that wanted bigger muscles, god bless him.

I’am addicted to heroin since turned 16 and to alcohol, since turned 21. Now I’am 26, I’am on substitute medication, I have a full - time job, I even started to study…psychology & counselling. At one of my first essays, there were a question: „Why You want to study this course?”, so I wrote an answer: „I’am a young man, struggling with opiate and alcohol addiction for nearly half of my life, I want to help people like me, I want to show and prove them, that everything is possible if only You really want it”, so it is. I’m praying for all of You and Your families ❤ Stay strong and never give up! 💪

he has an awesome family helping him out the way they are i hope he gets well

Great documentary. I regret the day I ever started using. I'm now clean, other than a relapse I've had like 2 weeks ago. I was 2 years clean. I hate myself for relapsing, but that's part of recovery.

Joe, Do you know how special you are to have parents that support your sobriety so wholeheartedly? OMG you are so fortunate.

What’s sad is those of us who suffer from real chronic pain every single waking morning are too scared to go see a doctor to get help. Then if a real pain patient does have the guts to see a doctor we only get offered junkie treatment medication. How is this fair?!

Just say NO!!

The mother enables the son. She didn't need to drive him to meetings as if he was a child. Parents kept feeding his habit. I wonder what kind of woman would marry him. Sad.

Such lack of compassion in the comments - just because one group of people got it bad in the past (black crack users) doesn't change the way you should treat people in a bad situation now.

It's time the producers moved on from maudlin piano music telling you to feel sad throughout these types of documentaries.

Where can I buy it? Where is it legal?

Probably best for Ben that he has a new family so he can move on with his life. Joseph literally financially destroyed his family. So sad.

Native Americans warned you all about this epidemic.

Drug Addiction is NOT a disease.

Good on Todd for flushing it and being brave and honest

It is so very difficult to understand addiction when you have no clue what the person suffering is going through. Our daughter is an alcoholic, it's really bad and we just dont understand. I struggle with the "why" everyday.

My son(15 years old) and his "crew"(what they call their circle) are STRAIGHT EDGE. I, at first, thought it was a "cult", for lack of a better term. The music, the black X;s, the mocking of drug users. All that. After watching doc's like this, I am HAPPY my son is in the straight edge cult.

Okay...I have been diagnosed with pinched to my whole back, and a curved disc! And the doctors tried giving me oxycodone. After taking the first pill and seeing how it makes me feel... I stop taking them. For one it makes you feel drink and high together! And two, I didn't want to get addicted to those things. Seeing the effect others have on it. NO WAY! I just pray and deal with my pain like it is.

Where was this level of empathy during the crack era?

Not a single alcoholic or drug addict grew up thinking “Someday, I hope I alienate my friends and family and squander every chance at a productive life.” Alcoholics and addicts started using and drinking by experimenting just like everyone else. The difference is that for some, being high/drunk felt normal. Anxiety, and a disconnection from others melted away and we finally felt ok. That is a very hard thing to say no to, especially when it works so well for so long in the beginning. Being an addict however, is due to a mixture of genetics and societal factors and is not within our control.

For the first guy...here's a thought...GET A JOB and stop sponging off of your parents!!

I learned a long time ago to never let an addict in your house or give them money. But there’s a few people in my life, including my child that I would never give up on. Just like them.

My little brother Nick overdosed on heroin and now has a brain injury as of nearly three years ago now. It hurts my heart to know that the same brother who kept me safe from abuse, or at least trried to, now isn't able to see or walk because he overdosed.

After reading all the comments I fear for humanity 🙄

Stop making excuses, if you are addicted find new friends, find a new city, find a help group, start making new habits and start over. Stop blaming others. Now is the time to change

Good job famylie. For given him the support that he needed it.

At what point does personal responsibility get its own documentary?

hats off to the man who flushed that dope down!

American society is sick. All these School massacres, thousands of addicts dying, this complex of superiority towards other Nations, all the wars. I hope americans can change all this and build a country & Society based on solidarity, equality, etc.

The problem is Jeff Sessions. He laughs when it is suggested that opium abuse can be treated with Marijuana. He said" Oh you r going to treat addiction with the worst drug Marijuana, that is laughable". This has been shown to effective for 70-80% for addiction. The Government looks out for Big Pharma and large Corp. not "We the People".

Joe’s father is a funeral director which made his overdose death more tragic.

Studying to be a psych nurse. Live in the U.K. and want to help people in the states and Canada one day

"Just say 'No' to Opioids!"

It is so sad to read these comments and see that some people are rejoicing over the misery of another race. The real problem with the world is hate. If your going to blame the government for the crack epidemic and the opiod epidemic, you must also acknowledge the racism epidemic that divides us instead of uniting us to love one another as the great Martin Luther King spoke of. We should be supporting each other through these difficult times and not tearing each other apart, our skin doesn't define us we are all humans and we all bleed the same. Have a heart!

I didn't completely break down until I saw Chuck Curran crying. Michelle you are so lucky to have a man like Chuck. And the two little boys are so fortunate to have the both of you to take care of them. I always wonder if they had drugs when I was growing up because I never knew anyone that did anything aside from cigarettes. I did grow up with my 3 Brothers smoking marijuana. But aside from that I never saw ANY of MY friends at school doing anything.

Wow. My mother recently passed away from a Fentanyl overdose and she did a few of these. She'd often not know what's going on and just look dead with her mouth open. The only way we could know she was fine is the twitching to keep her from falling over. This needs to be fixed.

Just say no to drugs

“Just Say No” - Nancy Reagan

Someone needs to lock these degenerate drug users up.

Those grandparents are absolutely amazing people. ❤

It's amazing to see how quick people are to pass judgment on people they don't even know.

JUST SAY NO!

Well done Todd, you've got this!

God bless the new adoptive parents for giving those children the life they deserve.

Respect also for the last dude